When you entered the business of real estate, you may not have thought of yourself as an entrepreneur. Perhaps you thought just the opposite, surrounded as you were by your broker's systems, your membership in the Brian Buffini organization, and (if you were fortunate) the guiding hand of a mentor.

If you're still in the business today, you're an entrepreneur. This post is for you. Bookmark it. Mull it over and come back to it. Consider the implications for success in your particular real estate or lending market.

I found a gem of an article by the Harvard Business Review's Scott Anthony this morning on Bloomberg. Anthony asks three questions of entrepreneurs, (and I'm paraphrasing here for REALTORS and lenders):

What's your survival timeline? At the rate you're spending money, how many days until you have to quit what you're doing and go get a job?

Why are you doing this? Are you committed, heart & soul, to what you're doing? Is your brand evident to others in your daily accomplishments? Is your "WHY" part and parcel of your daily activities?

What two critical things are you working on right now? "...a good entrepreneur can step back," says Anthony, "and highlight the two things they are really hoping to learn during a set time period. These aren't always the fires burning brightest. Ideally, they relate to the biggest unknowns..." Do the two things that come to mind drive your business forward?

I'll add a fourth question. Is your brand so very clear that EVERYONE can spot you a mile away? I was hiking on open range last week in the foothills of the Coronado National Forest, and saw this little guy at a great distance. He's unforgettable. I want my brand to be just like that!

Scott Anthony isn't a blogger. If he were, though, (at least for today,) Scott Anthony would be my favorite blogger.

On the rump? It would get some clients where they think, others might be very interesting to view. But, alas all would be hard to see.

On the cheek? Visable, but we'd probably face resistance.

I've got it at least for some!

Just above the tramp stamp!

They're always being shown, highly visible and attention getting.

And concentric arm bans for men.

We'll add stripes for refies!

Who could object? Everyone says they were burned by their lender now, we'd make it true.

Bill

Posted by William J. Archambault, Jr. (The Real Estate Investment Institute ) about 9 years ago

Mike - this month has been WONDERFUL - I'm concerned about next month, and the fall - so I'm trying offline to create and shore up my visibility in all segments. We decided in January that every inbound call was a "money" call - so it was just a matter of figuring out what products we needed... Did we need to sell additional services? We'll see... interesting questions.

I have always been a believer in sending cards. Thanks for the tip on Sendoutcards.

Posted by Mike Wilbur (Guild Mortgage Company and Oregon Homes For Heroes) about 9 years ago

There is on-going conflict between creating an unmistakable brand and constantly re-inventing your self to meet changing market conditions. Certainly relevant and worth pondering for a Realtor in today's market.

Posted by Leslie Ebersole, I help brokers build businesses they love. (Swanepoel T3 Group) about 9 years ago

I totally ageed with you Mike.. you have to know th WHYs so that you always have a GOAL in mind....Thanks for sharing

Posted by Donna Paul, Long Island Home Specialist,All About Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast) about 9 years ago

Funny thing you mentioned it, AR is what I am working on right now (#3)...Thanks for the good read.

Jen Wing

Posted by Jen Wing, Field Inspections Since 2007 (JPW Field Inspections) about 9 years ago

I love that Seth Godin calls being an entrepeneur as someone who creates art. I can't play the piano, and I never could hit a curve ball, but in this business I love to create art everyday, and that goes for all the branding I have been doing.

Mike: These are truly important questions that I need to ask myself. And, if the brand is not clear enough, what things can one do to make the brand clearer and more obvious to the world? I think that is a great challenge felt by many business people.

Because shifts in the market are constant, the landscape changes as well. Having said that, a plan is always a work in progress. How you treat business planning activities is how you will treat your business. Write it, live it, modify and tweak it as necessary. It will keep you focused on your goal and business.

It's 8:30 at night, and I've just gotten home. I took a four hour seminar today on email marketing, then tied up loose ends on two loans which will fund before the end of the month. A quick bite to eat, and an evening seminar on Send Out Cards. What a great productive day, but I haven't been near a computer until now, and my post got featured?!

Go figure! Thanks for all your comments; I'll see each of you on your respective blogs.

What's your survival timeline? That's a good question. I'm not sure I the typical Entrepreneur if thee is such a thing. I have some rentals puling down Bling with creative financing. Nice three bedrooms updated do in for 10 year or like like come along.

Why are you doing this? Very committed to it.Its evelent to some I know I tell people but what they take away from I if up in the air. What people think is baswd on their own life and rick level. Promote ME EVER YDAY

What two critical things are you working on right now? Looking for the next now

1. at least 365--I doubled what my real estate instructor told me to have for a rainy day!

2. because I LOVE it, and several things

3. mainly my sphere plan which had needed some rehabbing for quite some time. I'm working on streamlining all of my leads and doing better with those. I'm also working on time blocking again--I was successful with it at one time but, let myself get out of the habit. Now that I'm IN the habit of working 24/7 and having no routine other than what others put on my calendar for me, I'm overworked and underpaid. (I think I need to either get back to time-blocking or speak to my boss to see if I can cut back my hours!!)

4. Not good enough but, I did notice when I clicked on your profile page to see what you have been writing, that your brand is really clean, crisp and well-stated. I need to work on that--thanks for adding something else to my to-do list!!

Posted by Cindy Bryant, "Houston Home Staging Pros" (Redesign Etc. Home Staging) about 9 years ago

Great post Mike, it's really making me think about the way I'm going about my business and what I can do to improve my "brand."

Posted by Gary Swanson (Century 21 Harris & Taylor) about 9 years ago

Branding isn't as easy as one would think it is. First to get the perfect name and domain. And today, the perfect domains are usually the most expensive ones and honestly, I didnt want to pay 1800 for one year of a domain.

Posted by Nancy Larson (I am a licensed referral agent in NJ) about 9 years ago

Hello Mike and I do apologize for coming around so late to comment, I have been very busy with travel etc. This is a great post and congrats on the feature and here's another feature at .....